Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
The 14th series of This Is Your Life - which returned to its regular place of Wednesday at 7pm in the ITV schedules - included some unexpected drama that provided more newspaper headlines than any other event in the programme's history.
In a heart-stopping moment witnessed by millions of viewers live on air, one particular subject refused to take part - and walked off the set! After some persuasion, he changed his mind and the show was recorded and broadcast the following week - in a 10.15pm slot on a Thursday - providing viewers, for the first time, with two editions of This Is Your Life in one week.
The event meant that, by the time ITV had taken the live show off the air, there was insufficient time to show the complete replacement edition - a tribute to a character actor recorded several weeks earlier - making this edition the only one in the programme's history not broadcast in its entirety.
Closing the series, a popular television magician - himself a subject the previous year - created history when he turned the tables and surprised regular host Eamonn Andrews with the Big Red Book for his second time as a subject of This Is Your Life!
related pages...
those who said 'No'
first-hand recollections
the genesis of the programme
the show's fifty year history
Roger Elliot Predicts For Eamonn Andrews
The TV Times astrologer predicts the year ahead for Eamonn Andrews
Press coverage of Richard Gordon's 'on air' refusal of the big red book
| Jim DALE | Actor, singer and songwriter | 21 November 1973 |
| Vic FEATHER | Trade unionist | 28 November 1973 |
| Hayley MILLS | Actress | 5 December 1973 |
| Pete MURRAY | Radio and television presenter and actor | 12 December 1973 |
| George SEWELL | Actor | 19 December 1973 |
| David NIXON | Magician and television personality | 26 December 1973 |
| Robert DOUGALL | Broadcaster | 2 January 1974 |
| Deryck GUYLER | Actor | 9 January 1974 |
| Derek DOUGAN | Footballer | 16 January 1974 |
| William COLES | Retired Royal Air Force Officer | 23 January 1974 |
| Jimmy JEWEL | Comedian and actor | 30 January 1974 |
| John ALDERTON | Actor | 6 February 1974 |
| Patrick MOORE | Astronomer, writer and broadcaster | 13 February 1974 |
| Sam KYDD | Actor | 20 February 1974 |
| John DANKWORTH | Musician and composer | 27 February 1974 |
| Gordon OSTLERE | Surgeon and writer | 28 February 1974 |
| Lionel BLAIR | Dancer, choreographer and actor | 6 March 1974 |
| Sheila SCOTT | Aviator | 13 March 1974 |
| Roy DOTRICE | Actor | 20 March 1974 |
| Barry BRIGGS | Motorcycle speedway rider | 27 March 1974 |
| Christopher LEE | Actor | 3 April 1974 |
| Beryl GREY | Ballet dancer | 10 April 1974 |
| Terry BIDDLECOMBE | Jockey | 17 April 1974 |
| Don REVIE | Football manager | 24 April 1974 |
| Robert MORLEY | Actor | 1 May 1974 |
| David HEMERY | Athlete | 8 May 1974 |
| Eamonn ANDREWS | Television presenter | 15 May 1974 |
Broadcast details
Thames Television production for ITV27 editions | 27 x 30 minutes
Wednesday | 7.00pm x 26
Thursday | 10.15pm x 1
Production team
Created by: Ralph EdwardsProducer: Malcolm Morris | Directors: Royston Mayoh, Peter Webb, Steve Minchin
Writers: John Sandilands, Jack Crawshaw, Martin Robertson, John Viner, Frank Hayes, Fred Austin, Maurice Leonard
Researchers: Sarah Dickinson, Vincent Stafford, Sarah Manwaring-White, Maurice Leonard
Carol Lee, Nina Burr, Dee Maclure, Fred Austin
Programme Consultants: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley | Programme Editor: Jack Crawshaw
Production Assistant: Maggi Minchin | Designers: Jim Nicholson, Richard Francis
Location Directors: Peter Webb, Royston Mayoh